HOUSTON: NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver visited Cleveland last week to explore the possibility of bringing the All-Star game back to the city and encouraged the Cavaliers to bid on a future game.

"We would love to return to Cleveland," Silver said.

Silver met with owner Dan Gilbert and his staff last Friday. The All-Star game was last in Cleveland in 1997, when the league assembled the 50 greatest players of all-time. Commissioner David Stern called that moment his second-favorite All-Star memory, behind only awarding Magic Johnson the MVP award following the 1992 game after Johnson retired because of the HIV virus.

"We had a great experience when we were back there in '97," Silver said.